Automatic water wheel control



y 1954' c. c. HARRIS ET AL 2,684,031

AUTOMATIC WATER WHEEL CONTROL Filed June 20, 1951 4 s -t s t 1 \NVENTOQS CARL. C HARRV5 6 HAROLDW Q DWE u. ,DECEASED. By MAuo HELEN CADWELL, Exacurmx July 1954 c. c. HARRIS ET AL 2,684,03

AUTOMATIC WATER WHEEL CONTROL Filed June 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTORE CApu. c. HARRU';

HAR OLD W C bwaLL, Dace/ 5E0, by MAuo HELEN CAowELL, E x

M/P 4 W y 0, 1954 c. c. HARRIS ET AL 2,684,031

AUTOMATIC WATER WHEEL CONTROL Filed June 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTORS CARL C. HARR\S HAROLD W. CADWELL, ueceasao M uo HELEN CADwELL, Exaun'mx g/M ww w ATTORNEYS July 20, 1954 c. c. HARRIS ET AL AUTOMATIC WATER WHEEL CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 20, 1951 mlmm INVENTORS CARL C. HARR\S HAROLD W. CADWELL, DECEASED MAuo HELEN CADWELL, ExEcm-mx W we y llfizm ATTORNEYS Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT O-FFIC AUTOMATIC WATER WHEEL CONTROL Maud Helen iladwell, assignors to Rodney H Mass, a corporation of ant Machine (20., Orange,

Massachusetts Application June 20, 1951, Serial No. 232,578

(til. l03--16) 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the automatic pressure control of water wheel gates or valves to start and stop the drive for a pump, or other device depending on the need for the same.

The desirability of a dependable and certain supply of water under pressure is well known and for fire protection purposes, such a supply is essential. For fire protection purposes, water under pressure must be constantly available in amounts larger than can be conveniently or practicably stored in tanks and the pressure should be independent of outside power such as electricity because of the possibility of electric power failures during storms which are likely to cause fires. In rural or isolated locations, a dependable public supply of substantial amounts of water under pressure is frequently unavailable so that buildings in such areas must provide their own water supplies for fire protection and other uses.

Eeretofore there has been no apparatus available which was sufliciently dependable and certain in operation to assure an adequate supply of water for fire protection purposes. As a result insurance on isolated buildings, factories, storage yards and the like was either unavailable or available only at prohibitive rates.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, efficient dependable apparatus for supplying water under pressure and requiring for its operation only a source of hydraulic power.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a water wheel developing hydraulic pressure and automatic means to control the same according to the hydraulic pressure of the line employed; i. e., as long as a predetermined water pressure is maintained, the water wheel remains idle, but as the pressure falls, to a predetermined point, the gate or valve for the wheel opened for operation of the wheel to restore the pressure, and as soon as the pressure is thus restored, the gate or valve is closed.

Another object is to provide apparatus for taking liquid at one pressure and supplying liquid at a different pressure without the use of outside power.

Another object is to provide apparatus in which water is maintained in a tank at predetermined pressure regardless of the withdrawal of water from the tank.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for controlling a fluid motor and pump assembly in response to changes in demand from said pump.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a water wheel, a gate or valve for the wheel to be opened and closed to start and stop the same, a device such as a pump or other mechanism to be driven by the wheel when running, means to open and close the gate or valve, said means automatically operating by pressure as for instance derived from the pump, a pressure responsive valve operating said means.

These and other objects and advantages reside in novel features of construction, arrangement and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principal parts of the invention and the operation thereof;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic section illustrating the operation of the valve;

Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of a third and preferred embodiment of the fluid supply system of our invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing the control apparatus for the fluid supply system of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the automatic unloading valve of the control apparatus of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of one of the two structurally identical diaphragm valves of the control apparatus of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View through the manually operable control valve of the control apparatus of Figure 5, showing the valve in its normal position; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the operable control valve of the control apparatus of Figure 5, showing the valve in its shifted position.

One embodiment of our present invention is in Figure 1 wherein the reference character it indicates a shaft for operating a water wheel valve or gate not shown but various types of which are well known in the art. Shaft it is fast to a gear I2 meshing with a rack I on an extension it of a piston rod It the extension being backed by a roll 25. The extension 16 carries a weight 22 and the piston rod has associated therewith a piston 2 3 working in a cylinder 2%. The weight 22 and associated parts may be placed below the cylinder as well as above, and other details varied within the skill of one versed in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The cylinder 26 is closed except for a single pipe connection 28 having a normally closed drain valve 36 and a continuation pipe 32 intermediate the drain valve and the cylinder. The continuation pipe 32 branches at 34 and 36 thru a by-pass valve 33 normally closed and a valve 46 normally open, the latter leading to a pressure regulating valve 42 shown in detail in Fig. 3. The branch 34 is connected directly to a water pressure tank 44 thru pipe 46 having a. shut-oil valve 48, and the pressure regulating valve 42 is connected to the pipe 46 thru a strainer or the like 66. Valve 52 is a normally closed drain valve and valve 54 is normally open.

The water wheel drives a pump 56 having an intake 51 and having its outlet connected to the tank 6:2 through a pipe 58.

The pressure regulating valve comprises a cylinder (in Fig. 3) containing a piston-like valve member 62 having a reduced waist 64 spacing a pair or flanges 66 and 68, the latter having an opening 16. The valve memher is mounted on a rod I2 and is pressed upwardly against stops i by a spring E4. Pipe 36 enters the cylinder 42 at a point between flanges 66 and 66 when the valve member 62 is in its uppermost position as shown in Figure 3. With the valve member in this position, weights 22 force piston 24 downwardly in cylinder 26, thus in turn forcing water below the piston into the waist area of the valve member, whence the water escapes thru opening '16 below flange 68 and out thru drain vents I3. Downward movement of the piston 24, piston rod I8 and rack I4 turns the shaft iii to open the water wheel gate to admit water to drive the water wheel 1 which, in turn, drives the pump 56 to pump water into the pressure tank 44.

As the pressure in the tank 44 rises, this pressure is applied to the top of valve member 62 through pipes i6 and 16 against the action of the spring 14. When the fluid pressure on the top of the valve member 62 exceeds the pressure of spring I4, the valve member 62 will descend until flange 66 passes the pipe 36, whereupon the pressure will be transferred hydraulically, to cylinder 26, forcing piston 24 to close the water wheel gate and stop the water wheel and pump.

The pressure exerted by the spring 14 may be varied by any suitable means such as the screw I9 to maintain any desired pressure in the tank 44. When, due to use of water from the tank, the tank pressure falls below the pressure set by the spring 74, the spring raises the valve member 62 until flange 66 passes above the opening to pipe 38 and the water wheel gate opens and the water wheel drives the pump to force water into the tank. When the withdrawal stops, the water wheel and pump continue until the tank pressure overcomes the spring pressure at which time the water wheel gate is closed, stopping the water wheel and pump and the gate is held closed by the static pressure in the tank.

A second embodiment of our invention operating upon the same principle as the first is illustrated on Figure 2.

The reference character 86 indicates a supply pipe for a turbine or water wheel in a housing 82 and driving a shaft 84 when a valve 86 is open. This valve is shown in closed position. A pulley 88, or a gear, chain or other means, drives a pump 96 to supply a pressure tank 92. Water is drawn from the tank through an outlet pipe 94.

The valve 86 is opened by counterclockwise rotation and is urged to open position by a weight or other means. In the embodiment shown, a

4 weight 96 on an arm 96 is fixed to a shaft I00 connected to the valve, arm 98 forming a bellcrank with another arm I02. A rod I64 is pivoted to arm I02 and slidably enters a cylinder I66 acting as a piston therein.

The pressure regulating valve 42 has pipe I6 entering the tank and a pipe I68 corresponding to pipe 36 in Figure 1 connects the pressure regulating valve to the cylinder I66. As long as pressure in the tank is up, the rod I94 is held to the left by the water pressure from the tank, but as the pressure decreases due to use of water, the pressure regulating valve will act as above described and allow the water behind the rod in cylinder I06 to be forced out under influence of the weight 96 or other motive force so that the valve 86 opens. So long as the pressure in the tank is above the predetermined minimum the valve 86 is held closed by water pressure in the same way as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1; i. e., the valve 62 is shifted to cut oil the leakage thru opening 10 and vents "I8.

Figures 4 to 9 illustrate diagrammatically a preferred form of the present invention as actually installed and operated. The operation of this preferred embodiment is generally substantially the same as the operation of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to Figure 4, a storage tank IIII is connected through a suitable fluid conduit II2 to the high pressure, or outlet conduit N4 of a water pump I I6 and with a conduit I I8, provided with a normally open shut-off valve I26, connected to the normally closed distribution system in which it is desired to maintain the predetermined fluid pressure. The input, or low pressure side, of pump IIE is connected through a suitable conduit I22 to a suitable water supply. A check valve I24 is provided at the outlet of the pump II6 to permit passage of the water from pump i I6 while preventing return of water thereto.

Pump I I6 is driven by a suitable water powered motor I26 such as a water wheel or water turbine by any suitable connection such as a chain I28. Water power is supplied to motor I26 from a suitable water power source through inlet conduits I36 and I32 and exhausted from the motor I26 through an exhaust conduit I34. The energization of motor I26 is controlled by a valve i36 between the inlet conduits I30 and I32.

The opening and closing of valve 36, which may be of any suitable form such as a plug valve or gate valve, is controlled by the control apparatus shown in Figure 5, which will be described in detail presently. The valve actuating element of the control apparatus is a member I38 mounted for vertical reciprocation and yieldably biased in a downward direction by a weight I46.

It is understood that any suitable drive may be used between the actuating member I38 and valve 636 and that different drives may be used, depending upon the particular type of actuator and valve used. The only requirement is that movement of the actuating element I38 in one direction serves to open the valve or gate I36 and movement in the other direction serves to close it.

For purposes of illustration, Figure 4 shows the actuating member I38 is operatively connected to the valve I36 by a series of gear teeth formed on the member I38 forming a rack I42, a pinion which is in constant mesh with the teeth of the rack I 42 and which is fixed to a shaft I46 suitably journalled for rotation about its axis by means not shown. A worm I48 is fixed to the opposite ace-4 ,031

end of shaft I46 and is in constant mesh with a worm Wheel I58. Worm wheel I58 is formed with an internally threaded bore engaged with the externally threaded stem l52 of the valve 536 and is fixed against axial movement relative to the body of valve 536' by any suitable means.

The control apparatus is shown in Figure 5. This apparatus consists of means which, in response to an increase in the fluid pressure within the tank iii} and the distribution system to a predetermined value, lifts the actuating member i238 in opposition to the weight M9 to close the valve I36 and which, in response to a decrease in the fluid pressure in the tank H below a predetermined value, releases the member it to open the valve 136.

The control of the vertical movement of the member its is eifected by a first pressure responsive device, which comprises a cylinder I54 and a piston 55 which coact to form an expansible fluid chamber E58. Piston I55 is connected. through a connecting rod I66 to the element I38. The fluid pressure within the tank H 9 and the input conduit H2 is applied to the underside of the piston i553 through a connector i62, pipe "it, normally open control valve I56, pipe I68, elbow ilil, pipe 872, the connector I'M, check valve Hit, normally open throttle valve Hi3, pipe [85, conhector E82 and pipe i3 3. In order for the fluid pressure applied through this channel to be effective to lift the piston I56, valve I86 or valve I88 or both must be closed to prevent escape of the fluid through the exhaust channel [951. When either or both of the valve W5 and I33 are closed, the fluid pressure of the tank H6 and distribution system is applied to the piston :55 to tend to lift the piston we and the member I33 in opposition to the weight Hill. When the fluid. pressure is sufficient to lift piston I56 fully, the valve i353 is closed and the motor E26 stopped. Under normal or static conditions of the system, that is when the pressure within the tank ill! is equal to or greater than the desired fluid pressure, valve H88 is closed, valve I83 is opened, the piston E56 is in its upper position, the valve I is closed, and motor H26 and pump I it are at rest. When the fluid pressure within the tank 'i it drops below the predetermined value, the valve 586 will be opened to release the pressure applied to the piston led and the valve I36 will open starting the operation of the motor lit and the pump H6.

The structure of one of the valves I86 and 88, which are for convenience identical in structure, is shown in Figure '7. The valve comprises a body member Hi2 having an inlet I94 and an outlet E96 separated by an apertured partition i5 8 formed with an annular valve seat 200. A valve member 2S2 having a substantially conical valve face, is mounted within the body member it? for longitudinal movement coaxial with the valve seat 2st to effect opening and closure of the valve. Valve member 252 is biased toward its open position, as shown, by a compression spring 2M. Spring 2134 abuts against the lower face of a plate 265 which is secured to the upper end of a valve stem 2538 having the valve member 282 secured thereto at its lower end. A fluid pressure responsive actuating mechanism is provided for operating valve member 202. Downward movement of the valve stem its, in opposition to the spring 2%, is effected by a pressure responsive device which comprises a diaphragm 21i! peripherally secured betweenmating faces of members 2 l2 and 2 M of the valve assembly. Member 212 is formed with a concavity 2H5 which forms the upper fixed wall of a pressure chamber. The flexible wall of the pressure chamber is formed by the upper surface of the diaphragm 210. As shown, the diaphragm 2 in is in substantial surface contact with the concavity 21-3. When pressure is applied against the'topsurface of the diaphragm 2 H1 through inlet 218, the diaphragm moves downward against the member 28% and forces the valve member 202 into engagement with the valve seat 20%].

Referring once again to Figure 5, an automatic unloading valve 22:), to which the fluid pressure of the tank Hi5 is applied through pipes 222 and 224 and connector 225, operates to control the application of the fluid pressure of the tank lit to the fluid, pressure responsive actuating mechanism of the valve I36 through a conduit 228 and the release of said pressure therefrom in accordance with the relation of the fluid pressure within the tank I It! to the predetermined fluid pressure desired to be maintained in the distribution system and tank I It].

The structural details of the automatic unloading valve 229 are shown in Figure 6. The valve assembly 22c includes a body member 23%) and cap 232 threadedly secured thereto as indicated at 2134. Cap 232 is formed centrally with a recess forming an inlet chamber 23%? terminating in an annular valve seat- 238 against which a plate-like valve member 240 is spring biased. Cap 232 and body member 235 are suitably formed so that, when assembled as shown, they define a toroidal chamber 2&2 enveloping the peripherial edge of the valve member 249.

Valve member 2.4!) is held against valve seat 238 by the force of a compression spring 234 compressed between a pair of radially shouldered caps 24B and 2&8. Cap 246 abuts against a sleeve 2%, which is threadedly engaged with the lower portion of the body member 230 as indicated at 252. Cap 248, which is guided for longitudinal movement within the body member 238 by a cylindrical surface 25:? is in abutment with the head 256, of a stem 258 which is longitudinally movable within the sleeve 2% and which extends through an aperture in cap 246. The convex surface 26! of head 256 is forced into abutment centrally with the lower surface of the valve member 240. The degree of compression of spring 24% may be adjusted by rotation of sleeve 25!] by a hand wheel 262 fixed thereto. Sleeve 258 is fixed in its adjusted position by a lock nut 264 which is provided with hand grips 2% to facilitate manipulation thereof.

The peripheral edge 268 of the valve member 2 1% is in close proximity to the wall 210 of the toroidal chamber 242 throughout its length so that the valve member 2 34) efi'ectively divides this chamber 242 into upper and lower halves. A passage 212 is formed in the cap 232 to permit the free flow of fluid from the conduit 228 into the lower half of the toroidal chamber 242. Since a plurality of apertures 214 are formed through the cap 228 and since an annular radially extending opening is formed between the lower surface of a valve member 263 and the valve seat 215 formed on the upper surface of the body member 2% parallel to the valve seat I38, fluid may pass from the lower half of the toroidal chamber 242, over the valve seat '216, through the aperture 274 into a chamber 278 of the body member 230 in which the spring 2M is housed. The stem 258 is provided with 'a radially extending aperture 280 intercommunicating with a longitudinal extending bore 282. A sleeve 284, having a drain pipe 2o6 threadedly engaged with the lower end thereof, extends into the lower end of the bore of the sleeve 25%, free relative rotation between the sleeve 264 and the sleeve 250 being possible for the adjustment of the compression of the spring 244. If desired, the sleeve 284 and drain pipe 266 may be omitted and the water discharged directly from the bore of the stem 258.

Figure 6 shows the parts of valve 226 in their positions when fluid pressure exerted through the conduit tube 224 against the upper surface of the valve member 246 is insuflicient to overcome the opposing force exerted by the compression spring 254. In this position of the valve member 243, fluid is free to pass from the fluid pressure responsive device of valve I86 via inlet 2 I8 and the conduit 228 into the chamber 218 by the path previously described, and the fluid above the level of aperture 286 will pass through the radial aperture 235*, the longitudinal bore 282, through the bores oi sleeves 250 and 284 into the drain pipe 286. In this manner the fluid pressure applied through the conduit 228 with the fluid pressure responsive actuator for valve I36 is released so that the valve I86 assumes its open position.

When the fluid pressure which is exerted upon the upper surface of the valve member 246 through the conduit 226 is sufficient to overcome the force exerted thereon by spring 244, valve member 258 will be forced downward from engagement with the valve seat 238 to a position in which it engages the valve seat 218 to prevent passage of fluid from the lower half of the toroidal chamber 242 into chamber 218. In this shifted position of valve member 246, a radially extending annular opening is formed between the surface of valve seat 238 and the adjacent surface of the valve member 246 through which fluid may pass from the inlet chamber 236 into the upper half of the toroidal chamber 242. The fluid pres sure thus developed in the upper half of the toroidal chamber 242 is sufficient to lift the ball check valve 288 from its seal 296 to permit passage of fluid from inlet 224 to outlet 228. Thus, when the pressure exerted upon the valve member 246 through inlet 225 is suflicient to overcome the force applied thereto by compression spring 244, the fluid pressure from the tank III), shown in Figure 5, is applied through the valve 226 and the conduit 228 to the fluid pressure responsive actuator for the valve I36 to effect the closure thereof.

The operation of the system thus far described is as follows: assuming at the outset that the pressure in the distribution system and tank I I6 is at the desired predetermined value, which will be determined by the compression of spring 244 of the valve 226 shown in Figure 6, valve I86 will be closed, the fluid pressure of the tank III) will be exerted upon the lower surface of the piston I56 to lift the piston to its upper position. Then the valve I35 (shown in Figure 4) will be closed, and the motor I26 and the pump I IE will be inactive. If, while this static condition of the system exists, the outlets of the distribution system are opened, the pressure in the tank I ID will be reduced. When this pressure reduces sufficiently to permit return of the valve member 246 of the Valve 226 to the position shown in Figure 6 under the force of the spring 244, the fluid pressure exerted through the conduit 228 upon fluid pressure responsive actuator for valve I86 will immediately be released so that valve I86 will open. The opening of valve I66 relieves the pressure applied to the chamber I58 so that the piston I56 and the control apparatus member I38 will drop to their lower position. Downward movement of member I38 is effective, through the interconnecting linkage, to open the valve I36 to start motor I26 and pump H6 to pump water from the supply line I22 to the tank IIO and directly into the outlet conduit [I8 to tend to restore the fluid pressure therein.

The restoration of the system to its static condition may be effected in one of two ways. The system will be automatically restored when the pressure of the tank III is restored to a high enough value to overcome the force of the spring 244 and shift valve member 240 from its position as shown in Figure 6. It will be noted that, due to the slight leakage of fluid through the check valve I16 and the throttle valve I16, and pipe I to the exhaust channel I90, the pressure that must be built up in the tank I ID to eifect shifting of the valve member 4a of the valve 220 i somewhat greater than that necessary to maintain the valve member 240 in its shifted position in static conditions of the system. Once the valve member 246 has shifted to engage valve seat 27 6 and the valve I86 has closed, the entire pressure of the tank I IE] will be eifective through the check valve I16, the throttle valve I78, and pipes I89 and I84 to lift the piston lie to close the valve I36 (Figure 4) and stop the motor I26 and the pump I I6.

Since a certain amount of fluid leakage will occur through the throttle valve I18 in such automatic restoration of the system manually operable means are provided for restoring the system to its static condition without the loss of fluid therefrom. This restoration is effected by manual control of the actuation of valve I88. Valve I63, is of the same construction as the valve I86 and is actuated by an identical fluid pressure responsive actuator. Under normal operating conditions of the system, the inlet to the fluid pressure responsive actuator of the valve I88 is connected through a conduit 36!. and a manually operable control valve 362, in the position shown in Figure 8, to an exhaust conduit 304 so that no fluid pressure is applied to the fluid pressure responsive actuator and the valve I88 is in its open position. The valve I88 is, therefore, in its fully open position so long as manually operable valve 362 remains in the position shown in Figure 8. In order to permit the closure of the valve I88, an auxiliary pressure tank 366 is provided. Since auxiliary pressure tank 366 is connected through a conduit 368 and a check valve 3H] to the connector 226 and since the valve 362 in its normal position closes conduit 3 I 2, as is best shown in Figure 3, under static system conditions, the pressure in the auxiliary tank 366 will build up to the maximum of that in tank Hi]. Check valve 3Ill is effective to prevent reduction of the pressure in tank 308 when the pressure in tank I I0 drops. When it is desired to restore the system to its static condition, the valve 302 may be manually shifted to the position shown in Figure 9. In this position, the fluid pressure of auxiliary tank 366 is effective through conduits 308 and 3I2, valve 302, and conduit 39!) upon the fluid pressure responsive actuator of valve I88 to effect the closure thereof. Upon the closure of valve I88, the fluid pressure of tank IIO will be applied to the piston I56 and to the automatic unloading valve 220. As the pressure in the tank H0 gradually increases toward the cut-off point, the fluid pressure applied to the piston I56 will gradually increase so that a gradual closing of the valve I36 is effected rather than a rapid closure thereof, as in the automatic operation previously described. Once the apparatus is restored to its static condition the valve 302 may be returned to its normal position as shown in Figure 8 to relieve the pressure applied to close the valve 18.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 613,566 filed August 30, 1945, by Carl C. Harris and Harold W. Cadwell entitled Automatic Water Wheel Control and now abandoned.

The herein disclosed invention will be seen "to provide an automatic control for the purpose described, which is foolproof and does not depend on electric or other power, but only on a water supply. The invention applies also to-other types of equipment than water pumps and may serve as an emergency shut off for turbine water wheels When operating generators and similar devices. In any event, a constant water supply under pressure is achieved with maximum simplicity, mini mum care and operating cost and substantially complete perfection and guarantee of operation.

This invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a system for maintaining a supply of fluid under pressure including a vessel for the fluid, a pump for supplying fluid for said vessel, a fluid powered motor for driving said pump, apparatus for controlling the system in accordance with the pressure of the fluid in saidvessel comprising, in combination, a first valve for controlling the application of the fluid power to said motor, means normally biasing said first valve towards its fully open position, a fluid pressure responsive device operable to oppose the action of said valve biasing means, means defining a normally closed continuous fluid pressure transmitting conduit interconnecting said vessel with said pressure responsive device for applying fluid pressure to said device to maintain said first valve in its closed position, said fluid pressure transmitting conduit defining means including a second valve normally positioned to effect application of the fluid pressure to said. pressure responsive device and actuated to permit relief of the applied fluid pressure, and control apparatus responsive to the fluid pressure in said vessel and operably coupled to said second valve to actuate said second valve from its normal position to a position to relieve the fluid pressure applied to said pressure responsive device when the fluid pressure in said vessel is reduced to a point below a predetermined norm.

2. In a system for maintaining a supply of fluid under pressure including a vessel for said fluid, a pump for supplying fluid to said vessel, a fluid powered motor for driving said pump, and apparatus for controlling the system in accordance with the pressure in said 'vessel comprising, in combination, a first valve for controlling the application of fluid power to said motor, means normally biasing said first valve toward its fully open position, a fluid pressure responsive device operable to oppose the action of said first valve biasing means, means defining a normally closed continuous fluid pressure transmitting conduit interconnecting said :vessel with said pressure responsive device for applying fluid pressure to said device to maintain said first valve in its closed position, means defining a fluid pressure relief conduit for the fluid pressure applied to fluid pressure responsive device, a second valve normally positioned to prevent relief of the fluid pressure applied to said fluid pressure responsive device through said pressure relief conduit, and means responsive 'to a decrease in fluid pressure in said vessel for shifting said second valve to a position to permit relief through said pressure relief conduit of the fluid pressure applied to said pressure responsive device.

3. In a system for maintaining a supply of fluid under pressure including a vessel, a pump for supplying fluid to said vessel, a fluid powered motor for driving said pump, apparatus for controlling the system in accordance with the pressure in said vessel comprising, in combination, first valve for controlling the application of fluid power to said motor, means normally biasing said first valve toward its fully open position, a first fluid pressure responsive device operable to oppose the action of said first valve biasing means, means defining a normally closed continuous fluid pressure transmitting conduit interconnecting said vessel with said pressure responsive device for applying fluid pressure to said device to maintain said first valve in its closed position, means defining a fluid pressure relief conduit for the fluid pressure applied to said fluid pressure responsive device, a second valve normally positioned to prevent relief of the fluid pressure applied to said fluid pressure responsive device through said relief conduit, yieldable means urging said second valve toward its pressure relief position, a second fluid pressure responsive device connected to said second valve in opposition to said yieldable means and actuated by fluid pressure in said vessel above a predetermined norm to maintain said second valve in its normal position, whereby a decrease in the pressure in said vessel below the predetermined norm will permit the shifting of said second valve by said yieldable means to its pressure relief position.

4. In a system for maintaining a supply of fluid under pressure including a vessel, a pump for supplying fluid to said vessel, a fluid powered motor for driving said pump, apparatus for controlling the system in accordance with the pressure in said vessel comprising, in combination, a first valve for controlling the application of fluid power to said motor, yieldable means operably connected to said first valve and urging said first valve toward a first position to permit the application of fluid power to said motor, an expansible fluid chamber having a movable member coupled to said first valve in opposition to said yieldable means to actuate said valve to a second position to prevent application of fluid power to said motor, means defining a normally closed, continuous, fluid pressure transmitting conduit interconnecting said vessel with said expansible fluid chamber for applying fluid pressure to said fluid chamber to maintain said first valve in its second position, a second valve alternatively operable to effect application or relief of the fluid pressure of said vessel to said expansible fluid chamber, and control means for said second valve responsive to normal fluid pressure in said vessel to actuate said second valve to a position to eflect application of the fluid pressure of said vessel to said expansible chamber and responsive to a decrease in the fluid pressure in said vessel to actuate said second valve to a position to effect relief of the fluid pressure applied to said expansible chamber to permit opening of said first valve by said yieldable means.

5, In combination with means defining a normally closed fluid distribution system, normally inoperative means for transmitting fluid under pressure to said system comprising a pump adapted to transmit fluid from a relatively low pressure fluid source to said system, a fluid powered motor operatively connected to said pump, and a normally closed valve for controlling the application of fluid to said motor from a fluid power source; a control apparatus operatively connected to said valve and responsive to the fluid pressure head in said system for initiating operation of said fluid supply means upon opening of said fluid distribution sytem comprising a first fluid pressure responsive device operatively coupled to said first valve, means controlling the application of the fluid pressure of said system to said first fluid pressure responsive device including a second valve having a normal position in which application of the fluid pressure of said system to said first fluid pressure responsive device is eflected and a second position in which relief of the fluid pressure is efiected, and a second fluid pressure responsive device operatively connected to said system for response to the fluid pressure head in said system and coupled to said second valve for controlling the actuation of said second valve from said normal position to said second position upon opening of said fluid distributing system.

6. In a normally closed system for supplying fluid under pressure, a pump for supplying fluid to said system, a fluid powered motor for driving said pump, apparatus for controlling the system in accordance with the pressure in said system comprising a first valve for controlling the application of fluid from said source to said motor, means operably connected to and normally biasing said valve toward its fully opened position, a fluid pressure responsive device operably connected to said first valve in opposition to said valve biasing means, and means responsive to the fluid pressure in such system for causing the application of the fluid pressure in said system to said fluid pressure responsive device when the pressure in said system is above a predetermined norm to eflect closure of said valve and causing the termination of application of the fluid pressure to said fluid pressure responsive device when the pressure of said system drops below said predetermined norm to permit opening up said valve by said valve biasing means.

'7. In a normally closed system for supplying fluid under pressure, a pump for supplying fluid to said system, a fluid powered motor for driving said pump, apparatus controlling this system in accordance with the fluid pressure in said system comprising, in combination, a first valve intermediate said motor and a source of fluid power for controlling the application of the fluid power to said motor; a second valve comprising body structure having an inlet port connected to said system, an exhaust port, and an auxiliary port, a first passage formed in said body structure interconnecting said inlet port with said auxiliary port, a second passage formed in said body structure interconnecting said exhaust port with said auxiliary port, a valve member in said body structure actuate in response to the application thereto of a predetermined fluid pressure from said system to assume a first position to open said first passage and close said second passage and in response to a decrease in the applied fluid pressure below said predetermined pressure to assume a second position to close said first passage and open said second passage; and fluid pressure responsive apparatus connected to the auxiliary port of said valve and adapted to alternatively close and open said first valve in accordance respectively with the assumption of said first or said second position by the valve member of said second valve.

8. Control apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said fluid pressure responsive apparatus comprises an expansible fluid chamber which is connected to said system by means defining a fluid pressure transmitting conduit and which is operatively coupled to said first valve, a third valve alternatively actuated to effect the application of the fluid pressure of said system to said expansible chamber or to effect the relief thereof therefrom, and a fluid pressure responsive device coupled to said third valve and connected to said auxiliary port of said second valve to eflect the actuation of said third valve in accordance with the position assumed by the valve member of said second valve.

9. In a normally closed system for supplying fluid under pressure, a pump for supplying fluid to said system, a motor for driving said pump and a source of fluid power for said motor, apparatus for controlling the pump in accord with the pressure in said system comprising a first valve for controlling the supply of fluid power to said motor, yieldable means operatively connected to said first valve urging said first valve to permit the flow of fluid to said motor, an expansible fluid chamber operatively connected to said first valve to actuate said valve to cut off the flow of fluid to said motor, a second valve operatively connected to said expansible chamber and to said system, said second valve including a piston movable to operatively connect said chamber selectively to said system or to a discharge, yieldable means urging said piston to position to permit discharge of fluid from said chamber and pressure responsive means actuated by the fluid from said system for moving said piston to position to disconnect said chamber from the discharge and connect said chamber to said system.

10. In a system for supplying water under pressure, a tank, a pump for supplying water to said tank, a water wheel for driving said pump, a gate for controlling the flow of water to said water wheel, yieldable means operatively connected to said gate urging said gate to open p051 tion to permit the flow of water to said water wheel, a cylinder, a piston movably mounted in said cylinder and operatively connected to said gate to close said gate and cut ofl the flow of water to said water wheel, a valve chamber having a discharge opening, a first conduit connecting said tank with said valve chamber, a second conduit connecting said cylinder to said valve chamber between said discharge opening and the first conduit, a valve piston movably mounted in said valve chamber for movement past the second conduit to operatively connect the second conduit selectively to the first conduit or to 13 said discharge ope yieldaole means urging said valve piston to connect said second conduit to said discharge opening and means actuated by pressure in said first conduit to move said valve piston to cut off said discharge opening and connect said first and second conduits.

11. In a system as deined in claim 1%, means for limiting the flow of water from said second conduit when said second conduit is connected to said discharge opening.

12. In a system for supplying water under pressure, a tank, a pump for supplying water to said tank, a water wheel connected to said pump for driving pump, a gate for controlling the supply of water to said water wheel, yielda'ole means operatively connected to said gate urging said gate to open position to permit the flow of water to said water Wheel, a cylinder, a power piston movable in said cylinder and operatively connected to said gate to actuate said gate to out off the flow of Water to said Water Wheel, a valve cylinder having a discharge opening at one end, a first port at the other end and a second port between said ends, a conduit connecting said tank to said first port, a conduit connecting the cylinder to said second port, a valve piston slidably mounted in said valve cylinder for movement from one side of said second port to the other for selectively connecting said second port to the first port or to said discharge opening, means yieldably urging said valve piston toward said first port to connect said second port to the discharge opening to release water in said cylinder and permit said gate to open, said last named means having a predetermined strength whereby when pressure in said tank exceeds a predetermined amount, the pressure acting upon said valve piston moves said valve piston against the yieldable 1 and past said second port thereby cutting oil said second port from said discharge and connecting said second port to the first port for admitting water to said cylinder and actuating said power piston to close said gate.

References Cited in the file or" this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 108,905 Hagan Nov. 1, 1870 558,999 St. Mary Apr. 28, 1896 774,266 McMullen Nov. 8, 1904 1,566,995 Standerwick Dec. 22, 1925 

